Apple Season · October 26, 2026

What to Do With Too Many Apples: 12 Ways to Use the Haul

Picked more than you planned at the orchard? You're not alone — a bag or a bushel of fresh apples from Fisher's Fruit in Brockport adds up fast. Here are 12 practical ways to work through the haul before anything goes soft.

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What to Do With Too Many Apples: 12 Ways to Use the Haul

The Short Answer: Here's What to Do

When you end up with more apples than you can eat fresh, the good news is that almost none of them need to go to waste. The most practical answers for what to do with too many apples: make applesauce, freeze them peeled and sliced, bake a pie or crisp, press cider, simmer down a batch of apple butter, give a bag to a neighbor, or move the best keepers to a cool dark spot and let them sit for weeks. Each of these takes a different level of effort, and you don't have to pick just one. A bushel from Fisher's Fruit typically splits well across a few of these uses — some fresh, some frozen, some baked.

Eat the Softest Ones Fresh First

Not all apples age at the same rate. Early-season varieties like Paula Red and Jersey Mac soften faster and should be eaten within a week or two of picking. Mid-season picks — Gala, Honeycrisp, Empire, Macoun — have more staying power fresh, but still benefit from refrigeration. Late-season keepers like Fuji, Pink Lady, Braeburn, and Granny Smith can sit in the crisper for weeks without losing much. The practical rule: eat the softest apples first, refrigerate the rest, and then decide which ones are going into your long-term plan. Fisher's Fruit grows all of these varieties, so your haul may include a mix — sort by variety before deciding what goes where.

Applesauce: The Fastest Way Through a Big Batch

Applesauce is the most forgiving use for a large apple haul. You can make it with almost any variety — sweet apples like Gala and Golden Delicious need no added sugar; tart ones like Granny Smith add brightness when blended in. A big pot takes 10–12 apples (no peeling required if you run the cooked fruit through a food mill) and produces several jars that freeze beautifully. For a guide to which varieties produce the best results, see our post on the best apples for applesauce. If you have a haul of mixed varieties from the orchard, this is usually the first place to put them.

Freeze Them and Use All Winter

Freezing is one of the best long-term answers for what to do with too many apples. Peeled, cored, and sliced apples freeze cleanly and hold their texture reasonably well for six months or more. A quick toss in lemon juice prevents browning. Once frozen, they go straight into pies, crisps, pancake batter, oatmeal, and smoothies without any prep. For exact steps — including which varieties freeze best and how to portion for recipes — read our full guide to how to freeze apples. A few hours of prep work at the counter can stretch a big fall haul well into January.

Bake Pie, Crisp, and Apple Butter

If the oven is going to be on anyway, baking is a satisfying way to work through a large quantity of apples at once. A standard deep-dish apple pie uses 6–8 large apples; an apple crisp can handle 8–10 easily and is faster to pull together than pie. Apple butter uses even more — it starts with pounds of apples, cooked down to a thick, spiced spread that keeps for weeks in the refrigerator or months in the freezer. Empire, Golden Delicious, and Fuji all hold up well in baked applications without going mushy. For the best varieties to use in a pie, our apple pie variety guide covers the options in detail.

Press Cider or Make Fresh Apple Juice

A large quantity of apples is all you need to make fresh cider or juice at home, even without a traditional press. A blender and cheesecloth work for small batches; a juicer handles volume more easily. The flavor depends heavily on which varieties you blend — a mix of sweet and tart apples typically produces a better result than a single variety. Honeycrisp and Fuji add sweetness; Granny Smith and Braeburn bring tartness and complexity. For a deeper look at which apple varieties make the best cider, our guide to cider apples explains the blend. Fresh-pressed cider keeps in the refrigerator for about a week, or can be frozen in mason jars.

Give Some Away — Friends Welcome a Good Bag

A bag of fresh local apples is a genuinely welcome gift. Neighbors, coworkers, teachers, and family members who didn't make it to the orchard this year rarely turn down a share of a haul. Fisher's Fruit sells apples by the 8-quart bag ($14) and by the bushel ($40) — a bushel holds around 100 apples, which is more than most families eat fresh in a week. If you picked a full bushel, dividing it three or four ways is practical and leaves everyone with more than enough for baking. Fresh-picked apples carry a flavor and texture that store-bought fruit doesn't match, and that difference is something people notice.

Store the Best Keepers in a Cool, Dark Place

Late-season varieties from Fisher's Fruit — Pink Lady, Braeburn, Fuji, Granny Smith — are among the best storage apples grown in Western NY. Under the right conditions (cool, around 32–40°F, high humidity, away from other produce), they can stay in good condition for 6–10 weeks after picking. A spare refrigerator, an unheated basement, or a cold garage all work. The key is keeping them away from vegetables like onions and potatoes, which absorb apple ethylene and spoil faster because of it. For everything you need to know about long-term apple storage, our post on how to store apples covers conditions, container types, and what to check as they age.

Fill Your Haul at Fisher's Fruit Near Rochester

If you're still working out what to do with too many apples from a previous visit — or if you haven't come out yet this season — Fisher's Fruit & Christmas Tree Farm is on Euler Road in Brockport, NY, about 25 minutes west of Rochester. The farm has been growing apples since 1973, using organic practices with no systemic pesticides. Bags are $14 and bushels are $40. Late-season varieties including Braeburn, Fuji, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith are the best keepers of the season and are at their peak right now. Check current picking conditions before you head out, or browse the full list of apple varieties at Fisher's Fruit to plan your pick.

Apple Season Is Winding Down — Pick While You Can

Fisher's Fruit & Christmas Tree Farm in Brockport, NY is open for apple picking through the end of October. Late-season keepers are ripe now. Check current conditions before you visit.

Check Current Conditions → About Our Apples